A Meditation for Monday after the Third Sunday in Lent
By The Rev. John Wengrovius, ‘78
The Springtime of the Soul
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us, but if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:8-9).
Lent is a time for us to be honest about the health and renewal of our souls so that the mystery of Jesus’ incarnation can flower in our lives anew. This time of preparation begins with the cleansing grace of repentance and God’s forgiveness, which allows us to see how we must further cultivate and open our souls and lives to receive the new life of the resurrected Christ. It’s not surprising that an ancient way of describing Lent is “The Springtime of the Soul.” For me, the analogy of preparing my home gardens for a lovely and fruitful spring and summer comes to mind.
In the early months of the year, it’s time to take advantage of those warmer days and prepare my gardens for the new growth, beauty, and bounty to come. The preparation always begins with the clean-up: clearing out fall leaves, fallen twigs, last autumn’s shed evergreen needles, and the litter that has blown in with the winter winds. Bushes need to be pruned, roses cut back, ornamental grasses and dead flower stalks trimmed. Next comes culling out or removing altogether invasive grasses and plants, then turning over and amending the soil, especially that which has become compacted. Finally, a fresh layer of mulch needs to be put down to protect and retain moisture for the plants.
Come spring and summer, the work isn’t over: there’s always watering, fertilizing, weeding, trimming, protecting from rabbits, and the like. But the work and attention is well worth the effort: a beautiful sea of flowers that changes colors and contours as the week’s progress, providing enjoyment for not only my family and myself but also for our guests, neighbors, and all those who pass by.
Below are some gardening-inspired thoughts to ponder as we enter the Springtime of the Soul and prepare to enter fully into the absolute joy and beauty of Jesus’s resurrection from the dead and the new life He longs to share with each of us.
Cleaning out that which kills or hinders healthy growth, tending, nurturing, and mulching are all necessary for a lovely, productive garden.
There’s a reason self-examination and repentance head the list of traditional Lenten practices. When we know our need for God, turn toward him, and ask for his mercy and forgiveness, we find it and are placed back on the Way of the fullness in Christ that marks eternal life. Self-examination and repentance are indeed the gateway to a joy-filled life. Make self-examination and repentance a regular part of your Lenten practice and Christian life in general. It’s not optional. Ask God to help you be honest with yourself and with Him. I promise, God won’t turn away from you when you repent and confess; he’ll only love you all the more, if that’s even possible!
What crept or blew into your life and spiritual practice that has little or no value or purpose? Ask God to help you get rid of it.
What has become “gangly,” out of proportion, out of control in your life and spiritual practice? What needs to be pruned, trimmed, culled, or removed so that the good does not crowd out the best and new life can emerge and blossom?
Where in your life have you been compressed, even beaten down, and your receptivity to God’s nurture and purposes for you has been diminished? How can God help you create life-giving space in the hours of your days?
Is there a new spiritual practice that you would like to give a chance to enrich and add variety to your spiritual garden? Make sure it’s suited to your temperament and situation in life.
Do you currently have a spiritual practice that has ceased to “bloom” in your life? If so, is it time to trim it back, remove it, or ask God to help you persist so that it may bloom once more in the future?
How do you nurture, protect, and keep your spiritual life “well-watered”?
Do you have a spiritual friend or a spiritual director to check in with?
Consider having a regular, ideally daily, quiet time (20-30 minutes), during which time you and Jesus simply enjoy each other’s loving presence.
Have you made sabbath time a regular part of your week?
How is God calling you to open your life to the regular nurture of the Holy Spirit? You start by asking God the Father for a fresh indwelling of His Spirit at the beginning of every day.
How about attending a quiet day, a retreat?
Be creative!
May you have a fruitful Springtime of the Soul and a beautiful Eastertide!
The Rev. John Wengrovius is a native of Colorado. After graduating from Nashotah House and being ordained as a priest in 1978, he served several missions and congregations in Colorado. From 1980-83, he and his family were missionaries in Malaŵi, where he taught at the Zomba Theological College. In 1988, he was called to Calvary Episcopal Church in Golden, Colorado. During the next 28 years, he led the congregation from being a small parish to one with ~400 in weekend worship attendance. In the diocese, Fr. John served on various committees and boards and was a deputy to several General Conventions. He led numerous vestry retreats, seminars, and conferences on congregational development and taught summer courses at Nashotah House and Seabury-Western, where he received a D.Min. in congregational development. John retired in 2016. He and Ruth have been married nearly 48 years and have three grown children and six grandchildren.The readings for the preceding devotional may be located here from Forward Movement.
